‘Playing the best football in Europe and the world’ – Joan Laporta talks up red-hot Barcelona ahead of Galatasaray test

Laporta was equally keen to underline the vital collaboration forged between Flick and sporting director Deco, who have successfully nurtured both internal competition and dressing-room harmony.

Addressing the squad’s readiness ahead of their trip to Galatasaray, Laporta added: “The atmosphere and team spirit are key to everything, and Flick and his team, and Deco and his team, have achieved this. The Deco-Flick combination is working, and there’s this atmosphere and this ambition, because whoever plays does very well, and those who haven’t played want to improve on whoever has.

“It’s a Champions League match, which is the best club competition in the world. We’re coming into this game in very good form: yesterday’s training session was very intense, they’re highly motivated, and we have a good feeling about it.”